Senior Director of Compliance & Risk

Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Senior Director of Compliance & Risk on behalf of our client, Akin, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families across Washington state strengthen and grow together. Akin accomplishes this mission by building a brighter future together, rooted in family. We are seeking a proactive, systems-oriented leader with a proven track record of leading compliance programs within growing and evolving organizations.

This individual will serve as the organization’s subject matter expert in compliance, trusted by leadership and staff alike to provide guidance, insight, and practical solutions. The ideal candidate is a strategic architect who thrives in a collaborative environment, translating regulations, risk, and policy into actionable strategies that integrate seamlessly across operations. They are intellectually curious, adaptable, and comfortable turning underdeveloped or disparate processes into structured, scalable systems. This full-time, hybrid opportunity is located in Seattle, Washington.

ABOUT AKIN:

Akin exists to support and strengthen families in Washington state through a broad range of tailored child and caregiver services. With the primary focus on families with young children, its programs and services are built upon more than a century of experience in fostering nurturing environments and driving systemic improvements for families. Akin’s core values include 1) advocating for and alongside families, 2) cultivating relationships that foster belonging, 3) committing to their work and their communities, and 4) believing in audacious change and intentional transformation.

With compassion and care, Akin meets families where they are, providing immediate support while equipping them with tools for long-term success and growth. Time and time again, it has been seen that what benefits children and families ultimately strengthens communities. As the organization looks to the future, it remains steadfast in its commitment to keeping families together. To learn more, visit https://akinfamily.org/.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior Director of Compliance & Risk is responsible for designing, building, and leading Akin’s enterprise-wide compliance program and risk management framework. This role ensures the organization operates in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and internal policies.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this position serves as a key enterprise leader in reducing organizational risk, strengthening regulatory readiness, and protecting Akin’s integrity, financial sustainability, and reputation. The Senior Director of Compliance & Risk establishes a compliance infrastructure that is proactive, scalable, and integrated across all functions, supporting both current operations and future growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compliance Program and Enterprise Risk Management

• Design, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive, organization-wide compliance program, including policies, training, reporting mechanisms, and escalation protocols, aligned with regulatory expectations and organizational strategy.
• Establish and lead an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, including annual risk assessments, risk prioritization, and mitigation planning.
• Maintain a formal risk register and compliance calendar documenting key risks, mitigation strategies, ownership, and monitoring cadence to ensure visibility and accountability.
• Provide regular, independent compliance reporting to executive leadership and Board governance committees.

Medicaid Billing and Healthcare Compliance

• Serve as the organizational lead for HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification compliance, in partnership with IT and program leadership.
• Provide independent oversight of Medicaid billing compliance, including documentation standards, authorization requirements, and reimbursement regulations, in partnership with Finance, Billing, and CQI.
• Develop policies and controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, in partnership with Finance.
• Conduct and oversee compliance audits of billing and documentation practices, in partnership with CQI, which leads performance improvement and quality monitoring.
• Identify trends in denials, repayment risk, or audit findings and recommend corrective action plans.
• Ensure organizational readiness for payer audits, state reviews, and external investigations.

Federal Grants and Contract Compliance

• Ensure compliance with federal grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance, allowable costs, and reporting standards.
• Provide compliance oversight of grant-funded programs, in partnership with Finance, Development, and Program leadership.
• Support development of pre- and post-award compliance infrastructure, including risk reviews and documentation standards.
• Monitor contractual obligations with government and funding partners to ensure compliance.

Auditing, Monitoring, and Investigations

• Design and implement risk-based auditing and monitoring systems to identify and mitigate compliance risks.
• Conduct and oversee targeted audits of high-risk areas, including billing, documentation, and operational practices, in partnership with CQI.
• Establish and manage internal and external complaint and reporting processes, including anonymous reporting mechanisms.
• Lead or coordinate investigations of alleged noncompliance, misconduct, or fraud, ensuring objectivity, confidentiality, and timely resolution.
• Develop and monitor corrective action plans, ensuring sustained remediation.

Policy, Regulatory Monitoring, and Records Management

• Monitor regulatory changes, Medicaid requirements, and grant guidance, and translate them into actionable organizational practices.
• Lead development and maintenance of compliance-related policies and procedures.
• Ensure effective records management and retention practices, including documentation readiness for audits, subpoenas, and regulatory review.

Training, Education, and Culture of Compliance

• Develop and deliver compliance training programs across the organization, including role-specific content.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and program managers on regulatory interpretation and compliance implications of operational decisions.
• Ensure training participation and compliance activities are documented and tracked.

Strategic Growth and Organizational Enablement

• Partner with executive and operational leaders to ensure compliance is integrated into strategic planning and growth initiatives.
• Conduct compliance readiness assessments for new programs, sites, service lines, and payer models.
• Ensure expansion efforts include scalable compliance controls, training, and audit readiness.
• Support evaluation of new partnerships, contracts, and collaborations from a compliance and risk perspective.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Implementation

• Collaborate closely with Facilities, IT, People Services, CQI, and program leadership to ensure alignment.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships that enable effective Continuous Quality Improvement efforts.
• Travel regularly across sites to support implementation, education, and adoption of compliance practices.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, finance, public administration, law, or related field; Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• 5 years of progressive experience in healthcare, Medicaid-funded services, or nonprofit/government compliance.
• Professional certification (CHC, CCEP, CIA, CPA, or equivalent), or ability to obtain within 12 months.
• Experience in multi-site operations and regulated service environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building compliance programs, policies, and audit systems.
• Strong knowledge of Medicaid billing compliance, HIPAA and federal grant requirements (Uniform Guidance).
• Experience conducting investigations and managing sensitive compliance matters.
• Experience supporting external audits, state reviews, and federal monitoring visits preferred.
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into actionable operational practices.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and ability to operate independently.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

In addition to a competitive base salary of $140,000 to $165,000, Akin also provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes access to robust health, vision, and dental insurance; 401(k) with up to 3% employer contribution; Employee Assistance Plans (EAP); Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); Health Savings Account (HSA); Voluntary Long-Term Care Plan; Voluntary Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance; short-term disability insurance; Critical Illness, Hospital, and Accident Insurance; Financial Wellness & Identity Protection; Voluntary Long-Term Care; and 14 days of vacation accrued in the first year, 12 days of sick pay accrued per year, 2 Employee Appreciation days, as well as 14 observed paid annual holidays per year.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:

Akin has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/14331.